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GENERAL GUIDELINES
FOR CHOOSING FOODS FOR AN INFANT
Choose easily and locally available foods that
are culturally acceptable to the family.
Staples like cereals (rice, wheat, maize, millet)
and, roots (tapioca & potato) are bulky
due to starch and water content; provide less
energy.
Energy rich foods like ghee, butter, jaggery
or sugar add to the energy density of food.
Pulses, beans, groundnuts, milk, and eggs/chicken
could be added for extra & rich protein.
Green or colored vegetables and fruits provide
vitamins and minerals.
Foods in combination provide better net protein
utilization, through 'mutual complementation'.
Cereals are deficient in Lysine and poor in
methionine while pulses have the opposite quality.
A combination of both will provide first class
proteins
Germinated cereals (sprouts) rich in alpha-amylase
that breaks down carbohydrates and reduces food
viscosity; Called Amylase Rich Foods.
FINGER FOODS easy to give; easily accepted
by infants who reject spoon feeds; satiate the
desire to self feed and explore with mouth;
could be sucked, bitten, or chewed. Some examples:
Potato finger chips, Soup sticks, toast slices,
French fries, boiled/raw carrots, fruit slices,
Idli slices, soft cookies etc.
SUPERVISION IS A MUST
TO PREVENT CHOKING.
Finicky babies may resist semi-solids. Never
force-feed. Babies always win. Never feed in
a hurry. Change menu frequently.
EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL
WEANING FOODS
4 - 6 MONTHS : --Mashed ripe Banana , Chickoo,
Apple, Papaya etc.
Porridge made from milk, sugar, & cereal
(rice, wheat, sooji, nachni, maize)
Overcooked rice.
Mashed vegetables like potato & carrot.
Add oil/ghee/butter & sugar/ jaggery while
cooking.
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